Eberlin Anton

Eberlin Anton, one of the German reformers was born in Swabia towards the end of the 15th century. He entered the Franciscan order, and was chosen preacher of the Franciscan convent at Tubingen, from which, in consequence of some difficulties, he was, in 1519, transferred to Ulm. Here he became acquainted with Luther's writings, and having adopted his doctrines, had to leave Ulm in 1521. Repairing to Basle, he became very popular, but was driven away by the bishop of Basle. He found an asylum with Ulrich von Hutten and Francis of Sickingen, and wrote with them several works on ecclesiastical and monastical abuses. In 1522 he came to Wittenberg, where he became personally acquainted with Luther and with Melancthon, under the influence of whose teaching he wrote in the same year his Vom Missbrauche christlicher Freiheit, breathing a charitable spirit. In 1524 he went to Erfurt, where he preached for some time and thence to Wertheim on the Main (1526). He died soon after. His works, to the number of 34, were mostly of local interest; among the others, the most important one, entitled Wie sick eyn Diener Gottes worts ym all seynem thun halten soll (Wittenberg, 1525, 4to), has seen several editions, and can be found in A. H. Franke, Monita pastoralia. See Dollinger, d. Reformation, etc. 1:205; Strobel, Liter. Museum, 1:365; Herzog, Real-Encyklop. 3:620.